SIMLA – In the middle of the season, the Dove Creek Bulldogs hit a slide that could easily have zapped their state championship dreams.
Instead, the Bulldogs generated a remarkable turnaround that placed the program just two wins away from a state title.
Dove Creek coach Trent Daves’ squad turned it up a notch from the onset of the postseason, and the Bulldogs haven’t looked back thanks to a pair of wins in the Simla-hosted regional on Saturday.
Dove Creek topped No. 12 Elbert in a masterful 12-1 victory, before edging the regional hosts 5-4 to capture a coveted spot at Coca-Cola All-Star Park in Lakewood for the 1A state tournament semifinals and title game.
The Bulldogs (9-11) leaned on sterling pitching and defense in their regional journey, using a one-hitter to put away Elbert (7-6).
Dove Creek scored six runs in each of the third and fourth innings to send the game into mercy-rule territory. Only one hit in the a fifth inning broke up the no-hit bid.
Simla (10-6) dispatched Wiley 7-3 in its regional opener. However, Dove Creek found a way to edge the Cubs, avenging the loss that ended the Bulldogs’ season a year ago.
Now riding a four-game winning streak, Dove Creek will face top-seed Merino (17-6) on Thursday. Flatirons Academy and Akron will face off in the other state semifinal.
The semifinals and championship contest will be on the same day.
